At one of the US Army Corps of Engineers' smaller yet most ambitious lakes, this year's Recreation Employee of the Year Allen Gwinn strives to improve a spectacular array of recreation opportunities for the project's nearly one and a half million annual visitors.

Gwinn earned the distinction after more than 20 years of service at Raystown Lake, located in central Pennsylviania, where he serves a pivotal role managing the recreation program as well as providing crucial support for the environmental stewardship program.

According to Gwinn, one of his most meaningful roles is working to develop and strengthen partnerships for the project. His success in obtaining meaningful support from dozens of organizations earned him an invitation six years ago to serve on the Corps' Partnership Advisory Committee (PAC). His role in the PAC includes educating recreation and environmental stewardship staff from across the country on the value of building partnerships. He was part of the team that developed the inaugural Partnership PROSPECT curriculum, which he continues to update and present to classes across the country. Gwinn has been singled out for his presentation skills, which he uses with Raystown's visitors as well as on the PAC. Gwinn also serves as the PAC's chairman and as coordinator for the Handshake Program, which awards as much as $300,000 in grant money annually to promote new partnerships. Gwinn also provides leadership in his various roles with PAC by overseeing the Excellence in Partnership Award recognizing significant partnership service nationally, helping to develop a partnership outreach video to promote partnering within the Corps and helping to design a Cooperating Association Toolkit, a step by step process of how to develop partnerships with cooperating associations.

At Raystown, Gwinn leads a dynamic recreation program rivaling the busiest in the nation. He directs the seven-day ranger orientation for 12 summer rangers and two Student Conservation Association students to prepare them to serve Raystown's nearly 1.5 million visitors during the summer recreation season. Those visitors come to the lake throughout the year for boating, fishing, water sports, camping, hunting and mountain biking on the nationally recognized Allegrippis Trails.

One of Gwinn's most significant accomplishments is the partnership he established with the Raystown Mountain Bicycling Association, a group of 30 or so biking enthusiasts who develop new riding opportunities in and around Raystown and are responsible for the maintenance of the Allegrippis Trails. The cornerstone accomplishment of this partnership is the 36-mile Allegrippis Trail, a unique, fast, flowy single-track trail that's been described as a roller coaster ride, winding its way through 3000 acres of land hugging Raystown Lake. This trail, which opened in 2009, has become one of Raystown's biggest draws, luring tens of thousands of cyclists per year. The trail was recently ranked by Single Track magazine as the 13th most best mountain bike trail in the world.

The trail's fame has spread and now lures more than 3,000 cyclists from 42 states to participate in the annual "Dirtfest" mountain biking event. The event brings representatives from the mountain biking industry, who come to mingle with bike enthusiasts. Cyclists get the opportunity to test the latest cycles just entering the marketplace while industry professionals get critical feedback that drives the development of new equipment.

Gwinn also manages other special events including the North American Adventure Race, the Raystown Triathlon, and the Bicycle Times Adventure Fest, each of which attract visitors to Raystown Lake from across the country.

Although fun and exciting, the Allegrippis Trail does contain some technically challenging and potentially dangerous features for cyclists. In addition, many sections of the trail meander through very remote sections of Raystown's wilderness, making emergency response a challenge. Gwinn recognized this concern, and with partners began developing the concept and identifying funding for a mountain bike skills park. He obtained a $35,000 Handshake Award and a $75,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to build a Skills Park that duplicates many of the twists, turns and hills cyclists will face on the Allegrippis Trail, giving riders a chance to practice the skills needed while still accessible to emergency services.

Gwinn also put his keen planning skills to work in 2013 when the Raystown team developed the 2.5 mile Greenside Trail, a vital pedestrian link that connects 19 park recreation sites. Paved with shredded rubber from 30,000 recycled tires, the Greenside improved safety for all visitors by getting hikers and bikers off the busy roadway used to access the lake. "We are all very proud of the Greenside," remarks Gwinn, "and we are reminded of its success every day when we see people walking on it as we come to work."

One of Gwinn's favorite experiences with the Corps was his role as an interpreter for the Bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark Expedition in 2003-2006. He was one of about 30 Corps of Engineers rangers who participated in the Signature Events highlighting 15 stops along the route Lewis & Clarke took on their long journey to the Pacific and return to St. Louis, MO. The events were scheduled to occur on exactly the 200th anniversary of each stop, and were planned by a collaboration of the Corps with other government agencies.

Gwinn's talents for building partnership relationships has helped boost Raystown's funding and volunteer labor value to almost $1.1 million, a significant boost to Raystown's budget in these tight financial times. Partners include Friends of Raystown Lake, Ruffed Grouse Society, National Wild Turkey Federation, the International Mountain Biking Association, Southern Alleghenies Planning & Development Commission, the Appalachian Regional Commission, and many others. Gwinn played a vital role in attracting and structuring many of these partnerships.

Gwinn also played a big role in developing the plan for Raystown's Volunteer Village. He designed campsites to attract long-term volunteers that contribute $48,000 in value annually toward maintaining trails, campsite and lakeshore cleanup, Visitor Center landscaping and other routine activities, as well and providing support for interpretive programs.

"I've been very lucky to be a part of some significant improvements to Raystown Lake in the past 20 years," says Gwinn. "We've added a lot of facilities and opportunities for visitors and I'm proud to have been a part of those additions. I have also had the good fortune to be involved in some programs that have added benefit and recognition to the Corps nationally. It makes me feel good to see these programs be successful, and it also makes me feel good that others recognize how important and valuable these programs have become."